Cybersecurity
How cyber vulnerabilities and workforce cuts threaten the crisis lifeline program
A bipartisan, bicameral measure is hoping to prevent cyber incidents from limiting access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline after a 2022 attack on a system operator disrupted calls to the hotline.
Cyber insecurity: Shields down?
COMMENTARY | Federal funding cuts and the end of the cyber grant program, combined with growing threats from nation-states, has made our cybersecurity posture weaker.
The ‘mutual benefit’ of student-run cyber centers on campus
A number of universities are opening security operations centers to deal with cybersecurity incidents and monitoring, and have students help run them alongside full-time staff.
After RIBridges breach, R.I. state agencies share high tech wish lists at budget hearing
Nearly four months after a cyberattack shut down a public benefits system in Rhode Island, it is fully operational again. State officials now face new challenges, including upgrading aging tech and navigating uncertain federal funding.
Cyber grant funding lapses soon and state leaders want it renewed
The $1 billion State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program runs out of money in September.
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit that challenged Georgia’s electronic voting machine system
The judge dismissed a 2017 lawsuit challenging security threats of Georgia's electronic voting machines used in statewide elections since 2020.
State and local leaders look to FedRAMP changes as potential inspiration
The federal government is looking to cut red tape around its security assessment program and embrace automation. State and local leaders believe they can learn a lot from the revamp.
GSA launches FedRAMP revamp
One major goal of the changes is to speed up the timeframe for agencies to get access to the latest technology quickly, “not months or years down the road,” the agency’s acting administrator said.
City & State’s 2025 Digital Summit explores AI, vulnerabilities to cyberattacks
The event featured keynote remarks from Dru Rai, the state’s chief information officer and a fireside chat with New York City Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser.
FedRAMP to announce major overhaul next week
The initiative would seek to automate much of the cloud security program’s approval workflow and shift more control to the private sector.
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Trump order put states at the forefront of cyber and natural disaster response
The executive order signed this week is part of a wider push to put the onus on states and localities to prepare for disasters, rather than the federal government.
Texas mulls establishing new Cyber Command
Legislation would create the command and mandate that it set up a cybersecurity strategy. Gov. Greg Abbott said it is vital to protect the Lone Star State from bad actors.
What’s next for cybersecurity, election info sharing?
Federal funding has been slashed by $10 million for two information sharing centers, which both have tens of thousands of members. A more fragmented and expensive future could follow as states and others go it alone.
Progressives seek health privacy protections in California, but Newsom could balk
Democratic state lawmakers in California have proposed bills to protect women, transgender people, and immigrants in response to concerns that their health data could be used against them. If the measures reach his desk, Gov. Gavin Newsom could lay such legislation aside to focus on securing federal funds.
Big Tech lobbies New Mexico for AG-backed bill
Democratic lawmakers in the state differ on how to protect consumer information online, while a lobbyist for Big Tech companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Target and General Motors personally lobbied lawmakers on at least one data privacy bill.
Water systems’ cybersecurity dogged by ‘turf war’ between IT, OT
It can be hard to break down siloes between the operational and information technology in water utilities. But speakers at a recent panel called for more visibility and cooperation to keep critical infrastructure safe.
82% of schools suffered recent cyber breaches, report says
The Center for Internet Security said it observed nearly 14,000 security events and confirmed 9,300 cyber incidents, which tend to surge during high-stakes periods like exams.
Critical infrastructure leaders must ‘wake up’ and invest in cyber, report says
A new report from the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center warned of the threats faced by critical infrastructure and urged states to spend more to protect themselves.
Top considerations for adopting a whole-of-state cybersecurity strategy
COMMENTARY | A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so states must emphasize collaboration and resource sharing across their entire ecosystem to better protect themselves.
Trump’s cuts to federal cybersecurity agency CISA leave election officials worried
The agency partnered with state and local offices and helped combat misinformation. But under Trump, about 130 of its employees have been fired.
